HORSE RACING

TODAY AT OAK TREE AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $40,000, Allowance, 3-year-olds and up

1 Mensa Heat - This may be the best chance so far for this guy to win a race; takes the shortest way around.

4 Buyer's Remorse - Rafael Bejarano is dangerous no matter what the horse looks like in the Daily Racing Form.

Long Shot - 5 King Red

Race 2 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $17,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 Joe Carl - Sharp last-to-first winning move in last; continues to run well despite moving among many barns.

2 Gentle Romeo - Jeff Mullins barn is heating up again; seemingly been asleep as long as Rumplestiltskin.

Long Shot - 5 Rummysecret War

Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $38,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds and up

3 Alcindor - You must know who this colt is named for; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was formerly known as Lew Alcindor.

5 Chapman's Peak - Been well bet in both career starts; showed solid improvement in last as a beaten favorite.

Long Shot - 2 Private Bounty

Race 4 - 7 1/2 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds

2 Summers At Delmar - Superb return off a 3-month hiatus; key will be if he bounces off that big effort.

1 Plantsite - Second race off the claim by Jeff Mullins; as I wrote earlier, his barn is starting to heat up.

Long Shot - 4 Luv Dragon

Race 5 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $16,000, Maiden claiming $32,000, 2-year-olds

2 Alert Rocket - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; adding blinkers on.

1a - Doc Can Dance - Even Paul Aguirre entry has a chance to move forward in second start; need not be much to compete.

Long Shot - 7 Big Son of a Gun

Race 6 - 7 1/2 furlongs, Purse $16,000, Claiming $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Scored - Dead-late closer finished right behind the chalk in last; Alonzo Quinonez moves a couple strides sooner.

2 Via Verde - Good try in last while plummeting down in class; John Sadler feels this is where he belongs.

Long Shot - 4 John Eli

Race 7 - 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $33,000, Claiming $50,000, Fillies, 3-year-olds

6 Holloween Candy - Sharp win in last, is prudently placed for a $50K price tag; speed to lead of race close up.

1a - Come Home Quick - Part of a powerful entry with Joel Rosario and Rafael Bejarano riding; figures to fire late.

Long Shot - 3 Cruzin Topless

Race 8 - 6 furlongs, $55,000 Jack Goodman, 2-year-olds

3 McKenzies Way - Was overmatched in the Del Mar Futurity; his MSW win was fast, figures to be tough in class relief spot.

4 Awesome Patriot - Bob Baffert baby won at first asking; was favored in a weak field, not sure what he defeated.

Long Shot - 1 Premier Pegasus

Race 9 - 6 furlongs (turf, rail at 15 feet), Purse $38,000, Maiden special weights, Fillies, 2-year-olds

1 Orangeblackandgold - Tom Proctor has shipped west some talented runners; rail post a big edge in these turf sprints.

5 Born Flirt - FTS from John Sadler gets Joel Rosario; watch the tote board for additional clues.

Long Shot - 4 Town Belle

Best Bet - 4 Joe Carl (race 2)

Oak Tree Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 14/3/$24.20; Long Shots, 7/3/$39.20; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Oak Tree Totals - 234/64/$515.40; Long Shots, 113/16/$144.40; Best Bets, 14/5/$16.80

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - 3 Wishful Tomcat (4/1) in race 9 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Friday, Who's the Cowboy won at Belmont paying $4.00 to win, $2.50 to place and $2.10 to show. Stats - 176/127/$970.60